Iraq deploys thousands of troops north of country to retake Mosul

(IraqiNews.com) Baghdad – The Iraqi authorities deployed thousands of soldiers in a military base north of the country in preparation to retake the city of Mosul, that is considered the stronghold of the so-called Islamic state in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Iraqi army official told reporters, “The army troops started to arrive in a military base near Makhmour District to carry out a military operation in Mosul,” adding that, “There are three brigades currently stationed in the military base and it is scheduled that 4,500 soldiers from the army’s 15th regiment will also arrive in the base to start the preparations in order to retake Mosul.”

The first objective of the operation is to cut off ISIS supplies between Mosul, and the areas of Kirkuk and Hawija from one side, as well as Mosul and Baiji in Salahuddin Province from the other side.

The Iraqi forces slowly advanced to isolate and besiege ISIS areas before storming them in order to minimize the casualties among the troops.